THE Alan Shearer factor, for me, will no be the crucial key to Newcastle United’s future in the Premier League.

And let me tell you straight away, I am confident that Alan can do it, despite the tough task on his hands.

If Newcastle can pick up eight or nine points that could be enough but 10 would make it absolutely nailed on.

It’s straight forward if you look at it from the point of view that winning the three home games and then seeing what happens in away games will seal our fate.

I know Alan doesn’t believe in miracles and nor do I.

But is there a better candidate with more hunger and passion who knows more about Newcastle United out there than Alan?

I don’t think there is but I do think he can drive the players on and gather some momentum.

Chelsea was always going to be tough but as Alan pointed out after Chelsea, we aren’t playing those sort of sides every week.

The three home games are so important but if we don’t win them then we don’t deserve to stay up.

And who can genuinely say that Newcastle will definitely not get anything at Tottenham?

Or anything at Aston Villa on the last day, when Martin O’Neill’s men could well be on their sunbeds with their European fate decided?

Liverpool away is a different story but with 21 points still left to play for, there is still some unraveling left for Newcastle and Sunderland, not to mention Bolton, Stoke, Blackburn, Hull and Pompey, who can’t rest easy until they reach at least the 38/39 point mark.